The simple truth of the matter is that the government is working very hard at watching everyone and every thing all the time. Now there are cameras included in things like ADT alarm systems. How long do you think it will be before the government just simply needs to ask in order to gain access to the cameras in your home (if you have a system like that)? I am sure it is already like that, it just hasn't made the news yet. Now imagine you have an idea for an invention or a book. You work for months or years never knowing that someone is watching. You then go about trying to get a patent. This means you have to travel a few states away to go to the patent office. You get there to find that someone already has a patent for exactly the same thing you just built. Turns out it happens to be someone in government looking for an easy retirement. There are certain things the government should just stay out of. They are getting really invasive.

Its a hard thing to call without going down the lines of distrust or paranoia.

Id say without a doubt your internet identity is being consolidated. I use google chrome, you can pair devices to it via your email address. Youtube keep asking me if I would like to use my real name (fuck that) and you can go onto many websites that allow you to sign in using your Facebook, twitter etc etc.

I got a message on xbox live yesterday saying I need to add security protocols, it knew my phone number and asked if it was correct.

Your internet footprint is becoming more defined.

They cant at the moment, fully control the internet, however it would appear that they may be trying to claw some control back.

(13-12-2012 04:21 AM)Birdguy1979 Wrote: The simple truth of the matter is that the government is working very hard at watching everyone and every thing all the time.

Do you actually think they watch this footage? In the U.S. there are about what, 200 million people. If they film every one of us 24/7, then our government would need to hire about 800 million spies to sit and watch the films (since they only work about a 40 hour week, it will take 4 people, each with a couple hours overtime, just to watch one person all week. Sure, they could trim that number down by speeding up the film, especially while we're sleeping, but they will need hundreds of millions of spies watching us.

So no, the simple truth of the matter is that the government can put cameras up everywhere and we won't be watched. The only time anyone will be looking, ever, is if something criminal has already happened or they have strong reason to believe something criminal is about to happen - if that involves you, then you're either the criminal (in which case I don't give two shits about your rights since you gladly violate everyone else's rights with your crimes) or you're the victim, in which case I hope these cameras help protect you are at least help you get justice after the fact.

"Whores perform the same function as priests, but far more thoroughly." - Robert A. Heinlein

(13-12-2012 09:32 AM)Aseptic Skeptic Wrote: Do you actually think they watch this footage? In the U.S. there are about what, 200 million people. If they film every one of us 24/7, then our government would need to hire about 800 million spies to sit and watch the films (since they only work about a 40 hour week, it will take 4 people, each with a couple hours overtime, just to watch one person all week. Sure, they could trim that number down by speeding up the film, especially while we're sleeping, but they will need hundreds of millions of spies watching us.

So no, the simple truth of the matter is that the government can put cameras up everywhere and we won't be watched. The only time anyone will be looking, ever, is if something criminal has already happened or they have strong reason to believe something criminal is about to happen - if that involves you, then you're either the criminal (in which case I don't give two shits about your rights since you gladly violate everyone else's rights with your crimes) or you're the victim, in which case I hope these cameras help protect you are at least help you get justice after the fact.

No, there are computers that can analyze hundreds of voices, faces, stress, etc. in seconds seconds.
iPhoto recognizes faces and it's a end-user application. Just imagine what you could do with more specialized software and hardware

(check CVSA or Computer Voice Stress Analysis technologies to have an idea)

You don't need humans to analyze each face and conversation. Even a $200 cell phone can understand what you say!!

DISCLAIMER: If you find a message from me offensive, inappropriate, or disruptive, please ignore it.
If you don't know how to ignore a message, complain to me and I will be happy to demonstrate.

(11-12-2012 02:13 PM)Hughsie Wrote: I really, really don't get why people oppose these sorta things (unless they're a criminal or criminally stupid). If the Government wanna listen to me sit on the bus and mutter to myself about what's in the paper then I really don't care, if they wanna listen to me talk to a friend about what was on TV last night or how I really enjoyed playing Dishonored the other day then I equally don't care.

The only people who may be put out by this are people who could be discussing criminal activity on the bus (which is beyond stupid anyway), and I really don't care about them.

Oh Hughsie. They got to you didn't they? Sad day. The problem with this and with all monitoring, tracking, and invasive measures being forced on us without our permission is that it sacrifices freedom and personal liberties for the illusion of security. Using your logic, what's wrong with installing microchips in all citizens that tracks your location and your activity? Only people who are up to no good would be opposed to this, right? They're basically already doing this using cell phones and GPS systems built into every new car. Why not abolish our right to own firearms? Innocent, law-obeying civilians have no use for guns and so the military and police should be the only ones with access. Let's go a step further and put cameras in all our houses. Why not? If you're not doing anything wrong then you have nothing to hide.

Invasive implementations like this aren't about "what can they do with them right now?" It's about "what will they do with them later?" Trust in your government is a day to day evaluation that is subject to change. Years from now, when the facade of "elected officials working for the people" has completely crumbled and we are unwillingly oppressed by a Big Brother, I would prefer it if nationwide cameras weren't already in place to monitor my every move.

"Ain't got no last words to say, yellow streak right up my spine. The gun in my mouth was real and the taste blew my mind."

"We see you cry. We turn your head. Then we slap your face. We see you try. We see you fail. Some things never change."

(13-12-2012 09:32 AM)Aseptic Skeptic Wrote: Do you actually think they watch this footage? In the U.S. there are about what, 200 million people. If they film every one of us 24/7, then our government would need to hire about 800 million spies to sit and watch the films (since they only work about a 40 hour week, it will take 4 people, each with a couple hours overtime, just to watch one person all week. Sure, they could trim that number down by speeding up the film, especially while we're sleeping, but they will need hundreds of millions of spies watching us.

So no, the simple truth of the matter is that the government can put cameras up everywhere and we won't be watched. The only time anyone will be looking, ever, is if something criminal has already happened or they have strong reason to believe something criminal is about to happen - if that involves you, then you're either the criminal (in which case I don't give two shits about your rights since you gladly violate everyone else's rights with your crimes) or you're the victim, in which case I hope these cameras help protect you are at least help you get justice after the fact.

No, there are computers that can analyze hundreds of voices, faces, stress, etc. in seconds seconds.
iPhoto recognizes faces and it's a end-user application. Just imagine what you could do with more specialized software and hardware

(check CVSA or Computer Voice Stress Analysis technologies to have an idea)

You don't need humans to analyze each face and conversation. Even a $200 cell phone can understand what you say!!

So what? You think I care whether a computer watches me sit on a bus? Actually, you probably do think I care because you probably care and assume everyone else should too.

Hell, the Homeland Security computer can watch me take a dump and masturbate to internet porn for all I care, and for all the computer cares too. It doesn't give a damn because, well, it's a chunk of plastic and silicon and bits of metal. Let the computer watch.

Now, I might be a little embarrassed if I thought my neighbors were watching my internet porn habits, even if that really means somebody I've never met who works for Homeland Security. But they're not. Not ever.

Not really a big concern for me. Nobody, no human body, will ever watch what I'm doing on camera. That's all the privacy I need.

"Whores perform the same function as priests, but far more thoroughly." - Robert A. Heinlein